7 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day With Kids

Earth Day takes place every year in April – and with so many fantastic ways to celebrate Earth Day, there’s no shortage of things to do or ways to pitch in!

“But what is Earth Day?”, you may be asking. For those who don’t already know, this special day is all about increasing awareness of the environment and protecting the planet’s natural resources. The first Earth Day took place in 1970, and the movement has been growing in strength and importance since then. In fact, it could be said that every day should be Earth Day, since we need to help the environment now more than ever. However, this particular day in April (the 22nd in 2023) offers a unique chance to focus on this important cause.  

Now that we’ve highlighted just how important Earth Day is, we’ve got some suggestions for Earth Day activities for families that we’re sure you’ll love. The great news is that Earth Day activities for kids are plentiful, and with so many fun ways to celebrate, getting children involved is a piece of cake. Take a look at the list below to get inspired!

 

Which activities can be done to celebrate Earth Day?
Earth Day can be celebrated at home or in school – the more the merrier! Below, we’ll give you some creative ideas for Earth Day for both settings, so you have plenty of options to find something that suits you.

1. Feed the birds
Creating a bird feeder is a very wholesome activity that’s sure to delight! This has to be one of our favorite ways to celebrate Earth Day, as it allows for creativity and the effect is so immediate and visible.

You can use common household items such as plastic bottles or milk cartons to make the bird feeder (find an online step-by-step guide like this one if you want some help), and encourage your child to decorate it as creatively as they like. Be sure to look up guidelines of the kinds of food suitable for the birds in your area, then get feeding!

2. Go birdwatching
How could we fail to include birdwatching on this list, especially after tip #1? The joy of building a bird feeder for your garden is that you and your family get to marvel at the pretty birds that come your way. As far as Earth Day activities for kids go, birdwatching is great if you want an activity that is less active yet still educational.

Encourage your children to note the different kinds of birds they see in your yard, in the park, or on a walk, and look up information on what they find. You could even get your children to draw the birds, clearly displaying any identification markings that they notice. This can also be done in a school setting – place bird feeders in the schoolyard and notice what happens!

3. Nature journaling
Of the many Earth Day activities for elementary students, we have a particular affinity for nature journaling. This activity is beneficial in so many ways – it encourages children to get outside in nature, and it develops their observation skills as they patiently take note of what they find or see.

Try to choose an area with plenty of interesting wildlife, such as a woodland or meadow, and ask children to note down what they find. Encourage curiosity, and make sure you help them and answer any questions they have along the way.  

4. Grow plants from seeds
The green-fingered growers among you will love this idea! It’s also a fantastic educational activity for showing kids how the ecosystem works. Plant some seeds and watch as they grow, explaining that a seed requires a combination of certain things in order to sprout.

You could expand this idea to include developing an herb garden for your kitchen and learning about the different plants you can grow at home.

5. Take a fun nature walk
Simple yet effective, going for a fun and informative walk in nature is one of the best ways to learn about the local area. Whether you go in a group as part of a school outing, or you choose to take your child as a family activity, the main goal should be to observe. Sometimes, games can help with this – classics such as “I Spy” are a great way to increase awareness. 

6. Go car-free
If this option is available to you, why not swap out one of your shorter car journeys for a cycle or a walk on Earth Day? Not only will you be helping out the planet, but you’ll be getting some good exercise at the same time! And who knows – you might decide to make the conversion permanent.

7. Pick up trash
Are you wondering how to celebrate Earth Day at school? Litter picking could be a great way to care for the local environment in a fun way. Try going out as a group, with bags for trash and most importantly, a smile!

You’ll be surprised how big a difference this activity can make on the nature around you – not only does it look much nicer, but you will be actively making it a much healthier place for the animals around you to live.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of our top ways to celebrate Earth Day, and we hope you have fun while caring for the environment. Remember: preserving the planet is important every day, not just once a year, so consider incorporating some of these activities on a more regular basis.

 

Featured image by Noah Buscher on Unsplash